Communal harmony marks Ram Navami in Ayodhya

In an example of communal harmony in this pilgrim town, members of the Muslim community today made arrangements for Hindu pilgrims who arrived here in large numbers to celebrate Ram Navami.

The festivities, which were celebrated without any perceptible terror threat, saw about ten lakh devotees take a dip in the Saryu river, with many of them offering prayers at different temples including Kanak Bhawan, Hanumangarhi and Nageshwarnaath temples.

Senior Superintendent of Police R K S Rathore said, "There was no extremist threat to the religious gathering of Ram Navami Mela, but we made all possible arrangements to ensure the security of devotees."

In-charge of mela security and Superintendent of Police (City) A K Rai said, "We had no intelligence input about any threat from terrorists but we were alert because we received around 10 lakh pilgrims" and added that the security arrangements were not limited to city but extended to the borders of neighbouring country Nepal.

The festivities also saw Muslims making arrangements for devotees who arrived in this town.

City Board Corporator Haji Asad Ahmad who along with volunteers was active in the Mela, said "We have arranged drinking water and first aid medicines at various points of the city to help devotees if they are in any problem."

Aqeel Ahmad, a Muslim youth who was distributing packets of drinking water to devotees said, "the Hindu devotees who came to Ayodhya to celebrate Ram Navami are like my personal guests so I am trying to serve them up to all possible extent."